CHARTER FLIGHTS and private jets associated with the Open are pushing traffic at Dundee Airport towards record numbers of flights and passengers.

Over the week of the championship the airport will have handled close to 200 aircraft movements, with the Open flights adding to the scheduled ScotAirways and flyWhoosh scheduled services and the weekend holiday flights to Jersey and Guernsey.

Individual executive jets are flying in from North America and Europe, with slots also booked by specialist airlines operating similar aircraft types.

Charters are expected from half a dozen European countries as well as several airports across the UK.

The first additional flights directly connected to the Open started arriving in Dundee last week and numbers are expected to build steadily, with Friday currently showing as the busiest day of the tournament period.

There are several reasons for the increased volume of flights. Dundee has become a more attractive facility since the championship was last held at Carnoustie because of improvements to the airport infrastructure. In the past there was greater use of larger aircraft which tended to use Leuchars.

The leader of the administration at Dundee City Council, Kevin Keenan said yesterday, “The recent use of the airport by many of the people involved in this week’s Open golf championship is a major contributor to the economic viability of this city. It is important for Dundee to have the airport to act as a gateway for these visitors.”